Sherman Avenue to get new look

Later this year, Madison hopes to finish the reconstruction of Sherman Avenue along Warner Park.

Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, whose district includes the project, says there's been contention between those who want improved bike and pedestrian access and those who want to maintain four lanes of traffic.

The proposal - to be unveiled March 9 at a public meeting at Warner Park - doesn't keep four lanes of traffic, but Rhodes-Conway hopes it's an acceptable compromise.

"I hope this is something everybody can support," she says. "I think everybody recognizes there's a lot of pedestrian traffic across Sherman, and it's not a safe crossing. I think this addresses that."

The proposal being presented next week would rebuild Sherman between Trailsway Street and Northport Drive into a boulevard with a median. There will be two lanes of traffic northbound and one lane southbound, with left-hand turn lanes at intersections going south. There will be bike lanes on both sides.

City engineer Glen Yoerger says the city looked at having two lanes in both directions, but that meant losing more trees. "We tried to lessen the impact on the trees and the park," he says.